Instep-support.



N0. 808,515. PATENTBD DEC. 26, 1905.

G. H. CUMMINGS. INSTEP SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1904.

Witnesses:

is combined with the baseplate.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed. November 22, 1904. Serial No- 233,912.

To all whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. CUMMINGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Instep-Support, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to instepsupports.

The object of the invention is to provide an instep-support'which will be thoroughly comfortable in use, in which the arch-plate or instep-support proper will readily yield to pressure, thus to obviate discomfort, and which may readily be manufactured and sold at a price to place it within the reach of all desired users.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the various novel details of construction of an instep supporter, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an instep-supporter constructed in accord ance with the present invention viewed from the under side. Fig. 2 is a perspective view viewed from the upper "side, a portion of the sheathing of the structure being removed to exhibit the manner in which the arch-plate Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the base-plate, which may be made of any suitable material, preferably of spring metal; 2, the arch-plate, which is also made of spring metal; and 3 the sheathing or covering, which may be of any suitable material, preferably of leather. The base-plate is appropriately shaped to fit within t e heel and instep portions of a shoe, and its under side is devoid of a covering; but the upper side, as also the archplate 2, is covered by the sheathing 3, above referred to, which is combined with the base-plate through the medium of eyelets 4 and with the arch-plate by rivets 5, although, if preferred, these latter may be also eyelets. In order to prevent the sheathing from creeping or slipping upon the base-plate and arch-plate, it may be cemented thereto, Ipreferably by means of black japan or asp altum, these being impervious to the action of moisture, which will be necessary in order to render the device thoroughly effective in use. The arch-plate is approximately triangular in form and has its terminals 6 and 7 rounded, the intermediate portion of the plate being bowed or arched to conform to the under side or instep portion of the foot. The arch-plate is secured to the base-plate by rivets 8, which pass through the terminal 7 and through the base-plate, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the terminals 6 are adapted to slide or work upon the baseplate and with the pressure of the weight of the wearer, and this will positively preclude any discomfort in use or tiring of the foot, which would inevitably result if there were no yield to the arch-plate.

The device as a whole is exceedingly simple of construction and may readily be 1nanufactured without the employment of special machinery for the purpose. The base and arch plates will preferably be made of a nonoxidizable metal, such as spring-brass, whereby the life of the article is rendered practically limitless, the only part that can be deteriorated with age being the sheathing, and this may readily be replaced when worn out.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. An instep-supporter comprising a baseplate and an inherently-resilient arch-plate rigidly secured to the base-plate at one side only, the arch plate being shaped on the proper curved lines to impart the natural ow to the instep.

2. An instep-supporter comprising a resilient base plate, and a resilient upwardlycurved arch-plate rigidly secured to the baseplate at one point only.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. CUMMINGS. 

